Monday, April 20, 2020

Amazing Churches, Chapels, Cathedrals & Monasteries, In Caves & More Worldwide

Wacky Wedding Venue
Whether you want a wonderful wedding venue, a funny photo or just a moment of quiet contemplation, you have plenty to amaze and uplift you worldwide. Which is the most amazing and memorable church? The most bizarre church is the Wedding Church in Taiwan shaped like a lady's high heeled shoe.


Description
English: Glass High Heel Church in Budai Township, Chiayi County
Date8 February 2017, 15:31:49
SourceOwn work
AuthorAccord14


The most atmospheric is one in the cave in Cairo, Egypt. Others are in Italy

Wikipedia has a long list of monasteries in caves.
For example, Vardzia, Georgia, from the bell tower.



Cave Monastery in Vardzia, South Georgia (country of Georgia, not the US State).

Over in the USA, not Georgia but Arizona, is a chapel built into a rock face, Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Out to sea, in Hawaii, is St Benedicts in Honavnau.

The most stunning church interior on mainland USA, in my view, is the tall one with the light coming through - it is The Cathedral of Christ the Light, in Oakland, California, USA.

 Interior of Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA
Date11/05/2008
SourceOwn work
AuthorSkier Dude


Evening photo by Cam Vilay.

Another practical use of surroundings is the floating Catholic church in Tonle, Sap Lake, Cambodia. Maybe other countries could pick up tips from this, notably Holland in the Netherlands, Venice in Italy and Jakarta in Indonesia.

The trompe l'oeuil frescoes reate an air of grandeur and are impressively skilful at St Benedicts in Honaunau in Hawaii.



This church's painter inspired others, such as the Star of the Sea.

In the UK we have many magnificent buildings. One of the oddest is the twisted spire of the Anglican church of St Marys and All Saints in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.


I cannot travel right now because of Covid19. So I can console myself by recalling that many buildings are not the photographer's delight you might imagine. I have arrived at cathedrals to find them covered in scaffolding, closed for renovation. Or impossible to photograph from the front gate underneath.

Yet in books and online you can enjoy the buildings immortalised at their best moments of lights and glory.

Book:
Amazing Churches of the World by Michael Kerrigan, Amber Books, 19.99 pounds sterling.

Unusual Religious Buildings by Country
Cambodia - Floating Catholic church and other floating buildings, Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia
Egypt - Virgin Mary and St Simon Cathedral, Cairo, Egypt
Georgia - cave monastery in Vardzia, S Georgia
Italy - cave
Taiwan -
UK - Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield, England, UK
USA - Chapel of the Holy Cross, Arizona, USA
Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California, USA

Useful websites
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-8196877/Incredible-images-worlds-jaw-dropping-churches.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ico=taboola_feed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cave_monasteries

Author, Author! About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. (Not related to the actress.) See books and profiles on Lulu.com and Amazon, such as Wedding Speeches & Toasts, Quick Quotations, Who Said What When. Also watch videos on YouTube.
See other posts on singers and statues and languages and destinations.
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